Three die during protests over alleged gangrape of tribal girl in Bangladesh

Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general of police for the Chattogram range, confirmed the casualties to The Daily Star around 6:25 p.m., saying the bodies had been sent to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for post-mortem. The officer, however, could not confirm whose bullets caused the deaths.

Khagrachhari Civil Surgeon Mohammed Saber said three people were brought dead to the hospital, while four others were admitted with injuries. The identities of the deceased were yet to be ascertained.

Following the shooting, several houses and shops belonging to members of the indigenous Marma community were allegedly set ablaze and looted at Ramesu Bazar in Guimara.

Witnesses told The Daily Star that the Jumma Chhatra Janata, a platform of indigenous students, had been enforcing a blockade on the Guimara road to protest the alleged rape of a Class VIII student on Tuesday. Security forces reportedly confronted the demonstrators, questioning why the protest continued despite the arrest of the prime accused. An altercation ensued, triggering heavy gunfire.

Mongsazai Marma and Kongjari Marma, who were present at the scene, said they had been staging a peaceful demonstration in front of a food warehouse when law enforcers intervened.

Sanaw Marma, a former Chittagong University student, alleged that the torched homes and shops belonged to members of the Marma community.

Later, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, issued a statement accusing the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) and its affiliates of carrying out the violence in Khagrachhari.